Electrochemical Detection of Antiviral Compounds

Electrochemical detection of antiviral compounds combines the specificity of molecular recognition with the sensitivity of electrical signal transduction, enabling rapid, low-cost and portable analysis of drugs such as acyclovir, ganciclovir and valacyclovir. By immobilising selective receptors or catalysts on conductive platforms—ranging from carbon-based nanomaterials to metal-oxide films—this approach translates molecular interactions into measurable current or potential changes. Techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are widely adopted to quantify antiviral concentrations at nanomolar to micromolar levels. The method’s inherent miniaturisation and compatibility with microfluidics facilitate point-of-care monitoring, therapeutic drug management and environmental surveillance of pharmaceutical residues. Recent advances focus on enhancing electrode surface area, improving electron-transfer kinetics and integrating multiplexed detection for simultaneous analysis of several antiviral agents. Collectively, these developments promise to address global demands for real-time drug monitoring in clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical quality control and ecological risk assessment.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the fabrication of a molecularly imprinted polymer-modified glassy carbon electrode for ultrasensitive detection of acyclovir. The imprinting layer, templated by acyclovir molecules and reinforced with gold nanoparticles, affords exceptional selectivity and an analytical response down to 50 nM in spiked serum. The platform exhibits rapid rebinding kinetics and reproducible current signals, underscoring its potential for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Another investigation introduced a paper-based microfluidic device incorporating graphene-oxide-enhanced electrodes for multiplexed detection of nucleoside antivirals. Differential pulse voltammetry on the oxidised graphene surface enables simultaneous quantification of ganciclovir and zidovudine with detection limits below 100 nM. The device operates without external power by exploiting capillary flow to direct samples to distinct sensing zones, offering a low-cost route to point-of-care screening.

Electrochemical Detection of Antiviral Compounds publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical detection of antiviral compounds across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrochemical sensor: A device that converts chemical interactions at an electrode surface into electrical signals proportional to analyte concentration.

Differential pulse voltammetry: A voltammetric technique applying successive potential pulses to maximise sensitivity and minimise capacitive currents for trace analysis.

Molecularly imprinted polymer: A synthetic polymer formed in the presence of a template molecule to create selective binding sites complementary in shape and chemical functionality.

Limit of detection (LOD): The lowest concentration of an analyte that can be reliably distinguished from background noise under specified conditions.

Nanocomposite: A hybrid material combining at least two distinct nanoscale components to synergistically enhance mechanical, electrical or catalytic properties.

References

1. Carbon Nanomaterials Based Electrochemical Sensors/Biosensors for the Sensitive Detection of Pharmaceutical and Biological Compounds. Sensors (2015).
2. Electrochemical Oxidation and Determination of Antiviral Drug Acyclovir by Modified Carbon Paste Electrode With Magnetic CdO Nanoparticles. Frontiers in Chemistry (2020).
3. Improved Performance for the Electrochemical Sensing of Acyclovir by Using the rGO–TiO2–Au Nanocomposite-Modified Electrode. Frontiers in Chemistry (2022).